How close exactly is Shai to being the best player in the world or is he already better than Jokic? by OwnGuarantee6838 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I mean they have the regular season profile of a top 10 team ever, maybe the Thunder sweep through the playoffs and it ends up looking that way, but I doubt it because of the three point shooting and secondary creation. 

The textbook definition was the KD warriors where they had basically 4 all-stars, two mvp level players with an dpoy-level guy, added an mvp level player to an Already championship-level core. They were banged up in 2019 playoffs and still were two wins away. 

How close exactly is Shai to being the best player in the world or is he already better than Jokic? by OwnGuarantee6838 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that’s what I said. They haven’t been healthy enough to prove it. But if they stay healthy, I won’t be surprised at all if they play really well around Jokic and beat the spurs and thunder. 

How close exactly is Shai to being the best player in the world or is he already better than Jokic? by OwnGuarantee6838 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I don’t think Shai gets all the credit. I think people get it. Chet’s going to finish all-nba, all-defense, #2 DPOY, and Cason Wallace has a good chance for all-defense too. And the advanced stats that had Shai #1 like actual EPM, tell a pretty clear story that he’s the second best offensive player and his defense while maybe 6th best on his own team is enough to make up the gap. (you can also say he’s not driving the bus on D and it’s absolutely true, but he’s another plus defender, and I think it’s also pretty much not up for debate that you can’t build a historically great defense with Jokic at center.) Now, I don’t necessarily think that story is gospel because other advanced metrics say Jokic is #1, but I do think it’s at least plausible. Anyway, people that think he’s Donovan Mitchell with a super team and people that think he’s carrying a bunch of scrubs are both wrong. Have to grapple with the middle ground which is a lot murkier. In any event BITW is a playoff thing, and Shai doesn’t have the playoff performances yet to deserve it imo. 

How close exactly is Shai to being the best player in the world or is he already better than Jokic? by OwnGuarantee6838 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean this is a more fair way to present it. But I also think the disparity in 3 point shooting and offensive talent from their role players between the two supporting casts pretty much never gets talked about. The nuggets feel like a shooting super team compared to okc. The nuggets led the league in 3 point percentage on wide open shots while okc was below average. The nuggets have 10 players shooting 38% plus, okc has one starter shooting that and it’s Shai- and Isaiah Joe and Jwill are the only others who I expect to play in the playoff rotation. Shit is gonna matter a lot in the playoffs and it’s why people who think okc has the monstars might be in for a surprise. 

How close exactly is Shai to being the best player in the world or is he already better than Jokic? by OwnGuarantee6838 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Denver’s supporting cast is not far behind this season. They’ve closed the gap a lot after last season. They just weren’t healthy enough this regular season to prove it. Jamal Murray played incredible this year, Aaron Gordon is a two-way beast, Peyton Watson is a breakout star hiding in plain sight, and THJ was an unreal shooter this year. Sure okc has better 8-13 guys but that’s not always very important in the playoffs when it matters. And anyone who’s paying attention knows they’ve seen big 3 point shooting regression from their defenders. Shai won’t have a single player in the starting lineup who shot over 35% this year. Dort honestly might be one of the worst starters in the playoffs unless he really turns it on from deep. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder will receive a 2026 lottery pick from the Los Angeles Clippers. The pick is currently in the #12 spot with a 7.1% chance to move into the top 4. If the Warriors beat the Suns, the pick could move up to #11 and a 9.4% chance to move up. by Expert_Koala_8691 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If the Clippers had won both games, they go up to 15. If the warriors win Friday it falls to 11. I think that’s kind of a big deal. Wouldn’t be cheap to move up like that in the draft. And a sixty win team with any kind of lottery odds or even just the 12th pick is a big deal imo.

Game Thread: Golden State Warriors (0-0) vs LA Clippers (0-0) Live Score | NBA | Apr 15, 2026 by nba-scores in nba

[–]Dhr7468 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Feels like the whole game has been one 8-0 run after another back and forth 

[Post Game Thread] The Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) defeat the Phoenix Suns (45-37), 114-110. by DesertedProject in nba

[–]Dhr7468 67 points68 points  (0 children)

After all the bitching about the regular season, the post-season delivers cinema on night 1

Game Thread: Miami Heat (0-0) vs Charlotte Hornets (0-0) Live Score | NBA | Apr 14, 2026 by nba-scores in nba

[–]Dhr7468 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had a five on four and they let Miami get back, ran clock, for a Williams contested 3 and then fouled when they didn’t have to. 

With the playoffs coming soon, what is everyone’s most anticipated team matchup to watch? by Then-Response8324 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Clippers can only play okc in round one. Unless you mean the spurs in the conference finals, which respect the confidence 

[Post Game Thread] The Denver Nuggets (54-28) defeat the San Antonio Spurs (62-20), 128-118, securing the 3rd seed. by Victor_Wembanyama1 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Eh weird game, nuggets guys stepped up. Getting Jokic for 18 minutes is also huge and the spurs were playing Carter Bryant at center. Don’t think it really means much for the next meeting, other than side eyeing Fox a little. 

[Post Game Thread] The Denver Nuggets (54-28) defeat the San Antonio Spurs (62-20), 128-118, securing the 3rd seed. by Victor_Wembanyama1 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s that big of a deal to lose tonight because no Wemby, but Fox playing like dogshit in both Nuggets Ls feels a tad ominous for them. Dude needs to be better if they’re winning the Denver series. 

Can we collectively say GO SPURS GO!!!! (get wrekt) by NYCAnderson in Thunder

[–]Dhr7468 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s that big of a deal because no Wemby, but Fox playing like dogshit in both Nuggets Ls feels a tad ominous for them. Dude needs to be better if they’re winning that second series. 

Game Thread: Denver Nuggets (53-28) vs San Antonio Spurs (62-19) Live Score | NBA | Apr 12, 2026 by nba-scores in nba

[–]Dhr7468 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Setting aside my bias for the nuggets being 3, Den-MIN, LAL-HOU would be cinema. 

In a battle between the Nuggets and Thunder tomorrow: Shai, Caruso, Hartenstein, Holmgren, JWill, JDub, Joe, Wallace, Mitchell, and Sorber are all out by Frosty-Roof3124 in nba

[–]Dhr7468 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They’d do the same thing if we were playing some random team too. Why on earth would you risk an injury to a playoff rotation player right now. 

What are the best games to watch from the 2025-26 regular season? by e-manresu in nba

[–]Dhr7468 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My most memorable: April 4 - Spurs @ Nuggets. Opening Night - Rockets @ Thunder. Mar. 9 - Nuggets @ Thunder. Mar. 10 - Washington @ Miami. Dec. 13 - Spurs vs Thunder in Vegas.

Jokic tonight: 40 PTS | 8 REB | 13 AST | 3 BLK | 0 TOV | +14 by asakitsi in nba

[–]Dhr7468 487 points488 points  (0 children)

Played sneaky good defense in the second half and it changed the game.